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The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Sink Materials and Installations

Your kitchen sink is an integral element that reflects your personal aesthetic and meets health and sustainability standards. Our guide can help you select the ideal sink for your space based on bowl size, material composition and installation type.

Stainless steel is known for its durability and heat resistance, complementing other stainless steel appliances in most kitchen designs.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel kitchen sinks are highly adaptable, durable, and an excellent addition to any style kitchen. Not only are they heat resistant and easy to keep clean, they look fantastic too – complementing various design aesthetics seamlessly. Furthermore, these eco-friendly options boast significant hygienic and sustainability benefits and can meet ADA specifications with knowledgeable specification.

Consider selecting a sink with 16 or 18 gauge steel to increase durability. Furthermore, selecting one with a brushed finish may be less likely to show scratches and will protect from their accumulation than one with polished surface finish.

Avoid using chemicals containing chlorine and hydrochloric acid that contain abrasive particles that will harm the protective enamel layer, leaving steel vulnerable to corrosion. Also be wary when dropping items into your sink that could chip or scratch its surface.

Cast Iron

Cast iron kitchen sinks feature a heavy foundation with an enamel top layer for durability. Their enamel layer resists scratches while their heavy base helps retain heat for efficient cooking, making these sinks an excellent choice for pots and pans. However, they’re quite heavy so may require additional reinforcement.

Fireclay sinks are constructed from naturally occurring clay-based ceramic that’s been fired at high temperatures to produce an extremely durable sink material. Fireclay’s timeless aesthetic fits in well with farmhouse-style kitchens. However, it may be more costly than other options and require regular upkeep in order to prevent stains, cracks or chips; installation may also prove more challenging; yet its long-term investment potential makes this an attractive option.

Vitreous China

Vitreous china sink material is both long-lasting and beautiful. Made from porcelain that has been coated with glass enamel before being fired in a kiln to increase strength, vitreous china boasts a smooth non-porous surface that resists chips and scratches easily and makes cleaning simple.

Vitreous china sinks are available both glazed and unglazed styles. Glazed vitreous china features a glossy enamel coating to protect it from bumps and stains; its protective qualities make vitreous china resistant to everyday wear and tear as well as any food or soap scum build-up on its surface. Unglazed vitreous china options have an unfinished, rustic appearance perfect for vintage decor while they may also be more affordable than granite or natural stone sinks.

Granite Composite

Granite composite kitchen sinks combine crushed natural stone and acrylic resins for an enduring, stain-proof surface. Available with either single, double, and even the less frequently found triple basin styles.

Granite composite sinks are highly durable, but require special care in order to look and perform properly. You should avoid bleach and chlorides that could damage their surface and keep a soft cloth at hand for immediate cleanup of any spills that occur.

Granite composite kitchen sinks tend to be heavier than other models, so be sure the existing hole in your countertop fits for undermount installation. Check out Cookology’s exquisite collection of granite composite kitchen sinks online now.

Copper

Genuine copper sinks add an elegant, rustic charm to any home. Their long-term durability, resistance to rust and corrosion resistance, as well as natural antimicrobial properties make them great choices for creating an antibacterial kitchen environment. However, copper may also be vulnerable to damage from chemical reactions, so extra care must be taken with this choice than with most sink materials.

As with any metal material, choosing one with thicker gauge metal (14 to 16 gauge is considered high quality) will reduce the risk of warping or denting, as well as patinaing which may alter its appearance over time. You can slow this aging process by applying copper wax or furniture polish regularly.

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